Eyes Of Fire

Once Mindrot—the underappreciated mid-'90s industrial-doom-core ensemble from Orange County, California—had finally dissolved, Dan Kaufmann (vocals/guitars) and Matt Fisher (bass/vocals) set about forming their next project, Eyes of Fire, in 2003. Influences ranging from former peers Neurosis and the unexpectedly successful Tool to the emergent prog-alt-metal accomplishments of Isis and Mastodon shaped the new endeavor. The lineup reached completion with guitarist Cary Petersen, keyboardist Ben Smith, and drummer John Haddad; after signing to Century Media, the band issued the Disintegrate EP in 2003 and the Ashes to Embers LP the following year. Mixed reactions from critics and listeners triggered an extensive personnel overhaul that added guitarist Bobby Thomas (ex-Morgion), keyboardist Pete Truax, and drummer Nicky Bernardi. The revised group then recorded its second full-length, Prisons, for release in early 2006.